How wide 29er tires?

[stephenmarklay]

I need some new rubber and I was wondering if you guys like bigger say 2.4 vs smaller? I have 2.25 which I have pinch flatted at 25psi. It seems like bigger is trendier with tires. Is 2.4 much of a difference?

[p nut]

Depends on the terrain, ride, bike, tire, etc.

But "fat" tires are fun. I have 2.2" rear and 3.0" front on my rigid 29er. I like the lighter rear end for climbing, and the big front for cush. With a smaller rear, I do need to watch it in rock gardens, but you soon learn to be light on your feet. I can blaze through the chunky stuff at a pretty good clip with the rear at ~21psi.

Some of my friends ride them pumped to 35psi (on FS rigs), but that's just too much for me.

One more thing: Go tubeless.

[sandyrs]

Seriously, go tubeless.

For terrain around here (VERY rocky and technical singletrack, not much "flow") I have 2.25 front/rear on a FS XC bike (4" rear travel). I could see going bigger if I weren't racing XC but I plan to this summer. For faster trails I would opt for somewhat smaller and lighter tires but sharp rocks and lightweight casings don't go well together.

[KonaSS]

Agree, go tubeless.

Tubeless will make a bigger difference than size.

[crownjewelwl]

Tubeless either way...

2.25 for buff singletrack...2.35 for the gnar

Wider = less pressure so better traction

I'm running my 2.35 nobby nics at 17psi

[weisan]

Bruce Gordon Rock & Road 700x43mm. Goes on my 29er wheel and just the right balance of comfort and speed.

http://www.bgcycles.com/new-page/

http://images.bigcartel.com/bigcartel/product_images/129389979/max_h-300+max_w-300/Image_1.jpg

[cinema]

my reba clears 2.4 ardent on 45mm rims easy. the rim is too wide but i would go for as much volume as possible.

[adhumston]

I typically run 2.35 on the front and 2.25 on the rear. I run tubeless and around 19f/22r .

[Russian bear]

Switch to tubeless and stuff the widest tires your frame can handle.

[sandyrs]

Bruce Gordon Rock & Road 700x43mm. Goes on my 29er wheel and just the right balance of comfort and speed.

http://www.bgcycles.com/new-page/

http://images.bigcartel.com/bigcartel/product_images/129389979/max_h-300+max_w-300/Image_1.jpg

These are by all accounts great tires but for MTB trail rides they're really narrow.

[weisan]

These are by all accounts great tires but for MTB trail rides they're really narrow.

True.

[p nut]

Hey hey, speak for yourselves.

http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz208/201C/C507D0B0-F37B-42B0-9DF1-6C325D9AEA59_zps90c4f627.jpg

[stephenmarklay]

Thank you so much everyone. I likely will go tubeless but the rims on my bike are not tubeless ready. I may keep the stock rims and puts some of those BG tires on it for gravel grind duty and then get tubeless wheels.

I am certain dropping 5 pounds of pressure would be nice.

[Mikej]

I run 2.25 ralphs tubeless, I once thought a 2.35 front would be the stuff, but it turned tout to be quite bouncy and unpredictable because of it. You may also have a tough time squeezing in anything over a 2.25 in the rear.

[sandyrs]

hmm seems like a double post

[sandyrs]

Hey hey, speak for yourselves.

http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz208/201C/C507D0B0-F37B-42B0-9DF1-6C325D9AEA59_zps90c4f627.jpg

Looks like a fun ride. I do a lot of similar-looking stuff on my cx bike, it's my favorite kind of riding. But there are plenty of places around here where a cross/gravel bike just won't be as fun as a mountain bike. When I say Rock n Roads are narrow, I'm thinking more in terms of

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ef/10/66/ef1066d9c1287d4cbbdeb43a246e702b.jpg

than

http://elitebicyclestyler.com/files/2014/06/felt-mountain.jpg

I don't doubt that there are badass riders out there dropping into rock gardens on their 43mm tires, since that's how mountain biking pretty much got its start. I just mean I'm reasonably certain they aren't the best tire for that style of riding at this point in the progression of the mountain bike.

[sandyrs]

Thank you so much everyone. I likely will go tubeless but the rims on my bike are not tubeless ready. I may keep the stock rooms and puts some of those BG tires on it for gravel grind duty and then get tubeless wheels.

I am certain dropping 5 pounds of pressure would be nice.

This seems like a rad plan. :hello:

[p nut]

Looks like a fun ride. I do a lot of similar-looking stuff on my cx bike, it's my favorite kind of riding. But there are plenty of places around here where a cross/gravel bike just won't be as fun as a mountain bike. When I say Rock n Roads are narrow, I'm thinking more in terms of


than

I don't doubt that there are badass riders out there dropping into rock gardens on their 43mm tires, since that's how mountain biking pretty much got its start. I just mean I'm reasonably certain they aren't the best tire for that style of riding at this point in the progression of the mountain bike.

My post was more in jest than anything else. :D That trail is one of the roughest around the area and it rattled my brains out on the cross bike. But it was still fun. Just need to slow down and pick your lines more carefully.

[quehill]

It depends on the tire more than anything. For instance, Ardent 2.25 = meh, Ardent 2.4 = awesome. Down here in the Bay Area I'm a huge fan of the Geax/Vittoria Goma 2.4. Great tire, like an Ardent but better, and you can pick up the Geax labeled version super cheap on closeout right now. Like $25 per at Pricepoint.

[stephenmarklay]

In the summer here we run dry and dusty so that is a factor in tread. I was thinking to try the new Vitoria tires.